{wellness challenge} drink your H2O!

How about a fun challenge to kick off the new year?

Did you know I am a certified heath coach? I studied with Institute for Integrative Nutrition  for a year and even attended a conference to hear some big names talk about health and wellness. Nutrition and food can be a pretty overwhelming topic to study. It seems like there is conflicting information and new ideas out each week.

But, one easy thing you can do to feel amazing is drink more water. I am working with the Apothecary Circle for an entire year to up my skills in the healing arts (herbs, nutrition, natural cures).

So far, I am super excited by the women who are involved and the breath of information we are going to cover. (if you are interested in any of Laura Emily's programs, I have an affiliate discount code for 15% off ::  HERBS506)

Our first challenge is to rehydrate. It is a simple cleanse to start the new year. If you want to join with me, I would love to support you and work together. To join, just leave a message in the comments. I will post here every week this month with an update and you can check in. Easy.

Here are some guidelines:

+Try to drink a big glass of water every morning before you eat. I can do 24 oz with some lemon and it helps clear your system and gently wake you up. You could even fill up a water bottle to have next to your bed so you can drink it as you are getting dressed.

+Aim for 80-100 oz a day, but not all at once. Sip all day long. Yes, you will have to pee more, but some of the benefits can be better digestion, decrease in headaches and body ache, better sleep, better skin and more vibrancy in general.

Many health experts believe that most people are chronically dehydrated and that many, many health concerns can be cleared up with just drinking more water. It is certainly worth giving it a go!

+If you drink caffeinated or alcoholic drinks, add more water, as both of those are dehydrating. You do not have to give anything up - just add more to balance out the affects.

+Figure out how you will keep track. I like to drink from a 12 oz. Mason jar and I mark my ounces on the chalkboard each time I fill it up. You can also fill a pitcher of your goal amount each morning. And there are even apps that can help you keep track. However you do it - make sure it makes sense to you and your lifestyle. This is meant to be easy and take literally no more than 5 extra minutes a day.

+Feel free to add citrus, fruit and herbs to flavor your water. My personal favorite is lemon and rosemary. The aromatherapy benefits are powerful too. What about a splash of rose water? Or mint? Tarragon?

That is it!

I will post more later with some of my favorite ideas and hope you will share too. If this goes well, I have a whole year of monthly wellness challenges planned. Remember, my word for the year is FLY? Well, I am extending the metaphor into flock building. You know how birds fly together with one leading and making the air resistance less for the others? We can do that too. If we fly together we can ease the journey for each other. Are you in?

Healthy, vibrant mamas make healthy vibrant families!